- Australia plans to ban social media use for children under 16 by late 2025.
- Platforms will be required to verify users’ ages, or face fines up to AUD 49.5 million.
- A trial from January to March 2025 will test age verification methods.
Australia is set to implement a new law banning children under 16 from using social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, starting in late 2025. The law will require social media companies to prove they are taking “reasonable steps” to stop underage users, or face fines up to AUD 49.5 million (USD 32 million). YouTube, as an educational platform, is exempt from this rule.
The government is conducting a trial from January to March 2025, where 1,200 Australians will test various methods for verifying ages without compromising privacy. These methods include biometric age estimation, document-based verification, and data cross-checking. The goal is to find a secure, accurate, and user-friendly solution to enforce the new law.
This move comes as concerns grow about social media’s impact on young people’s mental health. While some see this as a necessary step, others, including critics like Elon Musk, worry it could lead to privacy issues or overreach. The results of the trial will guide how the law is enforced in 2025.
